Father James Martin: I think that the frustration is that it didn’t come with more specific action plans — how are we going to hold the bishops more accountable?

I, myself, had a little concern with the idea he’s calling the whole church to prayer and fasting. You know, you look at that theologically, you know, we’re all one. We’re all part of the church. But any sort of implication that victims, God forbid, or their families have to pray or fast, I think is really anathema. I think that’s what people were responding to.

But it’s basically saying we all need to work together. My bigger concern was I wish it were a little heavier on action. You know, what’s he going to do, specifically to hold bishops more accountable for their actions in the past.

What the church, bishops needs to do

Martin: The question is what to do with bishops who covered these things up? We saw in the case of Cardinal [Bernard] Law that people were very angry with the way that he was treated by the Vatican. They thought it was too soft, and I would agree. And so that’s the missing link. …

Priests with credible accusations were removed immediately. But bishops were not. And so that’s the problem.

And the second part is how do you deal with bishops who covered these things up and moved people around? ...

I don’t think mass resignations are such a bad idea, frankly. I know that’s a little extreme, but I think what they did in Chile is important. Bishops, as a body, represent the church. … And in as much as bishops represent the church, I think that they might want to think about these mass resignations as a really important signal or symbol to the faithful that they take this seriously as a group.

What he expects to hear from Pope Francis in Ireland

Martin: The pope is certainly going to address this. They just announced this morning that he’s meeting with victims of abuse, survivors. And so he has to address this. And if he doesn’t address it in his homilies or his remarks, he will be asked the questions on the plane ride home by the media.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. Click the “play” button above to listen to the entire conversation.